Liquid detergent composition

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to a liquid detergent composition with improved cleaning performance. Specifically, it pertains to a liquid, clear, concentrated, homogeneous, aqueous detergent composition, designed in particular for hand washing table ware, i.e. dishes, glasses, cutlery and the like, containing a carefully balanced mixture of elected nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents, preferably in admixture with an organic acid material, yielding improved cleaning performances over the usual built and unbuilt liquid detergent compositions.

United States Patent 1 Nunziata et al.

[ Dec. 23, 1975 LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION [75] Inventors: GennaroNunziata; Rainer Walter Max Schone; Gianfranco Spadini, all

of Brussels, Belgium [73] Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company,

, Cincinnati, Ohio 22 Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 21 App1.No.:327,545

[30] v Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 7, 1972 Luxemburg 64,743

[52] US. Cl. .252/526; 252/142; 252/143; 252/528; 252/545; 252/547;252/D1G. l;

. 252/DlG. 10; 252/DIG. 14

[51] Int. Cl. .1 CllD 3/04; CllD 1/75 [58] Field of Search 252/545, 547,528, DIG. 10, 252/DlG. 14, DIG. 1, 142, 143, 526

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,978,416 4/1961 Fein et a1252/DIG. 14 2,999,068 9/1961 Pilcher et al 252/547 X 3,062,749 11/1962Herrling 252/DIG. l

Primary Examiner-Richard D. Lovering Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas H.OFlaherty; Edmund F. Gebhardt; Forrest L. Collins ABSTRACT The presentinvention pertains to a liquid detergent composition with improvedcleaning performance. Specifically, it pertains to a liquid, clear,concentrated, homogeneous, aqueous detergent composition,

designed in particular for hand washing tableware, i.e.

dishes, glasses, cutlery and the like, containing a carefully balancedmixture of elected nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents,preferably in admixture with an organic acid ,-material, yieldingimproved cleaning performances over the usual built and unbuilt liquiddetergent compositions.

21 Claims, No Drawings LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Liquid detergent compositions in recent years have becomewidely accepted for hand-washing dishes, glasses, cutlery and the like,and have also been used for washing lightly soiled fabrics, inparticular fine garments; embroidery and the like of man-made fibers.They"a'recspecially convenient for the hand-washing of tableware andgarments, where their advantages of easy and'rapid dispersion in thewashing liquor and their convenience of handling are particularlyvaluable over granular and powdered detergent products. It has provendifficult, however, to formulate aqueous liquid detergent compositions,which do not only have cleaning power comparable with that of granularand powdered detergent products for washing tableware and soiledfabrics, but which are also clear, homogeneous, easily dispensable,stable to freeze-thaw conditions, and concentrated. Said manydifficulties, associated with formulating a clear, homogeneous, stable,concentrated liquid detergent composition, increase seriously when ahousehold hand-washing composition has to be formulated, .which can beeither acidic, alkaline or neutral,.without losing its superior cleaningand sudsing properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention pertains to aliquid, clear, homogeneous, easily dispensable, aqueous, stable,concentrated detergent composition, having superior cleaning and sudsingproperties, particularly designed for hand-washing of tableware.

The liquid detergent composition of this invention contains; calculatedon the total weight of the composition:

A. from about 4 to about 20% by wt of a hydrosoluble polyethylene glycolether sulth ate of the general formula v R,o(c,H,o),,So,,M (I) wherein Ris a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical,having 8 to 20 carbon atoms; n is from 1.5 to 12; M is an alkali-metal,ammonium, and dimethyl-, diethyl-, trimethyl-, I triethyl-, dimethanol-,diethanol-, trim'ethanol and triethanol ammonium salt;

B. from about 3 to about 25% by wt of an aliphatic hydrocarbonsulphonate of the general formula R. .so,,M (ll) wherein R is a straightor branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical, having from8to 20 carbon atoms; M has the meaning given above.

'C. from about 3 to about20% by wt of a nonionic surface-activedetergent of which at least 20 and up to l% by wt consists of a tertiaryamine oxide of the general formula i 1 R,,R,R,,N- o (Ill) wherein R is astraight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radicalhaving 8 to 20, preferably 12 to l6, carbonatoms; R, and R representeach a methyl-, ethyl-, hydroxymethyl-, and hydroxyethyl radical; whilethe other to 80% by wt of nonionic sur- .-face-active detergent isselected fromthe group consisting of polyethylene glycol condensationproduct having a molecular weight of from about mo to 800; acondensation product of 3 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole ofaliphatic or arylaromatic compound having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and atleast one reactive hydrogen atom; a saccharide fatty acid ester; and apolyoxyethylene saccharide fatty acid ester:

D. from about 2 to about 15% by wt of a solubilizing agent selected fromthe group consisting of C alcohol; potassium, sodium and ammonium saltof C alkyl-and :di-C alkylphenyl sulphonic acid; and urea; whereby theweight ratio of (A) to (B) varies between '1 to 3 and 3 to l, and theweight ratio of (C) to (A) l (B) varies between 1 to 10 and l to l.

A preferred liquid detergent composition of this invention contains;calculated on the total weight of the composition: 1

A. from about 5 to about 15% by wt of a polyethylene glycol ethersulphate;

B. fromabout 8 to about 20% by wt of an aliphatic hydrocarbonsulphonate;

.C. from about 3 to about 12% by wt of a nonionic surface-activedetergent mixture; whereby the weight ratio of (A) to (B) varies between1 to 3 andll to l, and the weight ratio of (C) to (A) (B) varies between1 to 5 and l to 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The performance of a detergent compositionis usually evaluated by the consumer in terms of sudsing. The liquiddishwashing detergent compositions presently on the market are,therefore, to a large extent, designed to fulfill said sudsingexpectation connoting cleaning performance. The consumer accustomed togauging the cleaning capacity of a washing solution by the amount ofsuds, and the persistence of said suds, is likely to be misled, becausedifferently formulated dishwashing compositions having the same sudsingcapacity do not necessarily have the same cleaning power. The fact thatmany food soils sustain the formation and persistence of suds generatedoriginally by the surface-active detergents, may confuse the consumereven more. That the cleaning power of a dishwashing detergentcomposition can become insufficient towards the end of the washingcycle, although suds is still present, can for example be easily noticedwhen the last items of washed tableware are taken out of the washingliquor and put aside for dripping and air-drying.

Convinced that the role of the surface-active detergents in a liquiddishwashing composition should not be restricted to sudsing and initialremoval of the soil from the tableware, Applicant reinvestigated theprinciples underlying the cleaning of tableware and the shortcomings ofthe presently marketed products, and found that the effectiveness ofdishwashing compositions could be surprisingly improved by a carefullybalanced mixture of elected nonionic and anionic surface-activedetergents, having same or superior sudsing capacity when compared toknown liquid dishwashing compositions, but also superior cleaningperformances.

The liquid dishwashing compositions presently on the market mainlycontain organic anionic surface-active detergents and inaddition'thereto some suds boosters and/or builders, the latterparticularly to enhance the cleaning power of said organic anionicsurface-active detergents. The most commonly used builder in liquiddetergent compositions is potassium pyrophosphate because, although lesseffective than condensedv or polyphosphates. it does not hydrolyze. Itwould. there fore. be logical to improve the effectiveness of dishwashing compositions by adding more effective buildcrs or otheradditives performing the same function.

the more since unbuilt detergent compositions. including thosecontaining even much higher amounts of surface-active detergents, seldommatch the cleaning performances of built compositions, and generate manynegatives such as oversudsing, even under mild agitations. Furthermore,highly concentrated compositions are sometimes harsh to the skin, andnot effective against all food stains, in particular milk stains.

It is therefore very surprising that solely due to a carefully balancedmixture of elected nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents, ahighly effective dishwashing compositioncould be formulated, which is atthe same time liquid, clear, homogeneous, stable and concentrated.

As said hereinbefore, said improved performance has been obtained bygiving special attention to the principles underlying the cleaning oftableware, especially dishes, glasses and cutlery which, afterhand-washing, are put aside for dripping, optionally rinsing, andairdrying.

The cleaning performance of the compositions of the present inventioncan and this is another valuable additional aspect of this invention beadapted so that the detergent composition can be optimally used underspecific circumstances, e.g. washing of tableware heavily soiled withfats, or washing of milk-stained glasses. Said optimization can beperformed by carefully changing the balance of the nonionic and anionicsurface-active detergents within very specific ranges, by electingparticular nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents having awell-defined hydrophobic radical, and- /or by the incorporation of someother specific ingredients in said detergent compositions, in relativelysmall but well-defined quantities.

The elected nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents to be used inthe formulation of a liquid detergent composition of this invention, andthe other specific ingredients which can be added thereto are describedhereinafter. lf in said description of surface-active detergents andadditional ingredients, reference is made to a salt of an anionicsurface-active detergent or other acidic ingredient, then reference ismade to either the sodium; potassium; ammonium; trimethyl-, triethyl-,dimethyl-, diethyl-, trimethanol-, diethanol-, triethanol-, anddimethanol ammonium salts, if not specified otherwise.

Elected, suitable surface-active detergents are:

l. polyethylene glycol ether sulphate as represented hereinbefore by theformula R |()(C2H..O ),.S0,,M (I) which is the salt of a sulphuric acidester of a reaction product of one mole of a straight or branched,saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon compound having 8 to 20 carbonatoms and a reactive -OH group, preferably a higher fatty alcohol, c.g.tallow or coconut alcohol, and L5 to 12, preferably 2 to 6, mostpreferably 3 moles ethylene oxide, obtained according to Well- 2.aliphatic hydrocarbon sulphate as represented hereinbefore by theformula R SO M (ll), which is the salt of an organic sulphuric acidreaction product of a hydrocarbon of the methane series, including iso-,neo-, meso-, and n-paraffins, having 8 to carbon atoms, preferably 13 to18 carbon atoms; or of a hydrocarbon of the ethylene series, having 8 to20, preferably 12 to l8 carbon atoms and I up to 4 double bonds, and asulphonating agent, e.g. S0 H SO oleum, obtained according to knownsulphonation methods, including bleaching and hydrolysis. Preferred aresulphonated C paraffins, alone or in combination with sulphonateda-olefins containing in average 14 carbon atoms, whereby, if mixturesare used, the weight ratio of sulphonated paraffms to sulphonateda-olefins is preferably of from 10 to l to l to 2, the lower limit onthe amount of paraffin sulphonates being especially of importance whenthe pH of the washing solution is lower than about 6.5, i.e. betweenabout 4 and 6.5.

3. nonionic tertiary amine oxide as represented hereinbefore by thegeneral formula R,R,R,,N 0 (III) whereby the arrow in said formula is aconventional presentation of a semi-polar bond, is generally prepared bydirect oxidation of the appropriate tertiary amine. R is a highmolecular hydrocarbon radical, preferably an alkyl radical having 8 to20, preferably 12 to l6, most preferably 12 carbon atoms, or a mixtureof dodecyl with decyl and tetradecyl radicals, whereby at least 50% ofthe radicals are dodecyl. R and R which may be the same or different,represent each a methyl-, ethyl-, hydroxymethyl-, and hydroxyethylradical. Specific examples of tertiary amine oxides are: dimethyldodecyl amine oxide; diethyl tetradecyl amine oxide;bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecyl amine oxide; bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxyl-hydroxypropyl amine oxide; dimethyl2-hydroxy-dodecyl amine oxide; diethyl eicosyl amine oxide. The cleaningperformance of the liquid dishwashing detergent compositions accordingto the present invention can be enhanced, particularly in acidicformulae and acidic washing liquors, by using as nonionic surface-activedetergents only tertiary amine oxides, preferably dodecyl amine oxides,most preferably dimethyl dodecyl amine oxides. However, the higher thepH of the washing solution, the less effective the removal of milkstains. The latter can be corrected by adding small amounts of an acid,preferably acetic or citric acid.

4 the other nonionic which can be present in the compositions of theinvention, but, together with said amine oxide, is either:

a condensation product of ethylene oxide being a polyethylene glycolhaving a molecular weight of from about to about 800, preferably about400;

a condensation product obtained by condensing, in a manner known per se,3 to about 15 moles ethylene oxide with one mole of an organichydrophobic compound, aliphatic or alkyl-aromatic in nature, having 8 to20 carbon atoms and at least one reactive hydrogen atom, preferably areactive hydroxyl group. Preferred are condensation products of about 6to about 12 moles ethylene oxide per mole of an aliphatic alcohol having12 to 16 carbon atoms, in particular middle-cut coconut alcoholcondensed with about 6 moles ethylene oxide and tallow alcohol withabout 10 to l 1 moles ethylene oxide. Other specific examples are Cfatty acid esters esterified with a polyethylene glycol having amolecular weight of from about 300 to 800; saccharide fatty acid ester,being either a mono-, di-, and tri-fatty acid ester of a mono-, di-,tri-, and tetrasaccharide, and hydrosoluble polysaccharide and itsanhydrides. Preferred are monoand diesters of C saturated andunsaturated fatty acids and monoand disaccharides. Specific examplesare: sucrose coconut fatty acid ester consisting of 80-50% by wt ofmonoesters and 5020% by wt of diesters, sucrose monooleate, glucosemono-stearate. mannose mono-palmitate, Xylose mono-oleate, sorbitolmono-stearate;

polyoxyethylene saccharide fatty acid ester, being either a mono-, di,or tri-fatty acid ester of a mono-. di-, tri-, tetra-saccharide andhydrosoluble polysaccharide, condensed with polymers of ethyl ene oxideconsisting of approximately to 40, preferably oxyethylene units.Preferred are monoand diesters of C saturated and unsatu rated fattyacids of monoand disaccharides. Specifrc examples are: sucrosemono-oleate (20) polyoxyethylene, sorbitan mono-palmitate (20)polyoxycthylene, sorbitan tri-stearate polyoxyethylene.

Solubilizing agents to be used in the detergent compositions of thepresent invention are:

5. either hydrotropes or solvents selected from the group consisting ofC alcohols, and sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of C alkylphenyland C dialkylphenyl sulphonic acids, and urea. Only small amounts ofsaid solubilizing agents are required to prevent phase separation and topromote the mutual solubility of the elected anionic and nonionicsurfaceactive detergents. Even amounts below 2% by wt of solubilizingagents could be used by electing surfaceactive detergents havinghydrophobic radicals with a specific number of carbon atoms, preferablybetween 12 and 14. The upper limit of 15% by wt is imposed only becausetoo much solubilizing agent would adversely affect the viscosity of thecompositions. Specific examples of solubilizing agents are: methyl-,ethyln-propyl-, isopropyl-, tertiary butyl-, n-butyl-, isobutyl-,isoamyl alcohol; potassium and sodium toluene-, xylene-, and cumenesulphonate.

Suitable other ingredients or additional compounds which can be added toimprove the cleaning perforrnance of the compositions of the presentinvention are:

6. low molecular organic acid as acetic-, citric-, malic-, glueonic-,maleicand lactic acid, and the less preferred because sparingly solublepand o-phthalic acid. Said acid can be substituted but only to a reducedextent by sulphuric and phosphoric acid or their partially neutralizedsalts. Said acid, preferably said highly soluble organic acid, can beadded in an amount up to 14% by wt, while the less soluble one shouldonly be added in amounts up to 3% by wt calculated on the ,total weightof the composition. By adding said acid, preferably acetic or citricacid, particularly to compositions designed for washing milk-stainedglasses, surprisingly clean glasses can be obtained without additionalrinsing. Preferred amounts of acid are 5 to 5%. When corresponding saltsare added as sodium and potassium citrate or acetate, the weight ratioof acid to salt should preferably be between 7/ l and 4/1'.

7. another valuable ingredient which can be added, particularly inalkaline compositions to enhance the already superior cleaningperformance'is the sodium or potassium salt of meta-, ortho-, orpyroboric acid. Preferred is the potassium tetraborate which isparticularly effective in alkaline compositions. Although said boricacid salts can be added in an amount up to 5% by wt calculated on thetotal amount of the composition the optimum effect which can be obtainedby said salts lies between 2 and 3% by wt. The boric acid salts arepreferably used with triethanolamine in a weight ratio oftriethanolamine to boric acid salt which varies between I to 2 and l to4, and is preferably 1 to 3.

1 8. the compositions of the present invention may also contain minorproportions of other surface active detergents as fatty alcoholsulphates, e.g. sodium and potassium dodecyl sulphates, triethanolaminesalts of coconut alcohol sulphuric acid ester, which may only be used upto by wt calculated on the total amount of the polyethylene glycolsulphate (A) and aliphatic hydrocarbon sulphonate (B) and up to about10% by wt of the total composition; substituted methylaminoacetic acidor salt thereof, preferably sodium, potassium and ammoniumcoconut-sarcosinate, in amounts up to 3% by wt of the total composition;the sodium, potassium or ammonium salt of C preferably C alkyl glycerylsulphonic acid, in amounts up to 3% by wt of the total composition;monoand diethanol amides derived from C preferably C fatty acids inamounts up to 5, preferably 1 to 3, preferably 2% by wt of the totalcomposition; and up to 2% by wt of the total composition oftriethanolamine, particularly in alkaline compositions and washingliquors,

' having a pH of at most 9.

Additional compounds or ingredients which can be added to make thecompositions of the present invention much more attractive are:

9. perfumes, dyes, fluorescers, tarnish inhibitors such as benzotriazoleor ethylene thio-urea, bactericides.

As referred to hereinbefore, the outstanding properties of thecompositions of the present invention are due to the carefully balancedmixture of elected nonionic and anionic surface-active detergents. Thebalance or ratio of said surface-active detergents to each other is ofsuch an importance that compositions wherein the weight ratio ofpolyethylene glycol ether sulphates to hydrocarbon sulphonates beingoutside the range l/3 and 3/1' lose most of their efficiency althoughthe other imposed weight ratio of nonionic surface-active detergents toanionic surface-active detergents is met, and vice-versa.

The superior cleaning performance of the dishwashing compositions of thepresent invention is illustrated by the following tests.

TEST A Two series, A and B, each of five dishwashing liquors, areprepared. Each dishwashing liquor of the series A contains 0.2% by wtper liter of a dishwashing composition formulated according to ExampleI, described hereinafter: and each of the dishwashing liquors of theseries B contains 0.2% by wt per liter of a dishwashing composition,presently on the market, formulated as indicated below.

The water for preparing the dishwashing liquors is tap water having awater hardness of about 3.4 millimoles of CaCQ, per liter. Each washingbath contains about 9 liters. The temperature of all washing liquors orbaths is kept-at about 45C during the test.

In each of said two series of five washing liquors, ten glasses(contentzabout 25 cl) stained by dry milk, obtained from a schoolrestaurant, are immersed during 5 minutes. After being immersed for 5minutes, all glasses are rubbed, under water, with a conventionaldishwashing towel, and then removed for dripping and air-drying (roomtemperature: about 23C). Once the glasses are dry, three experimentedgraders individually compare the appearance of the glasses. comparingthe TABLE[ ABABABABAB Series Washing Liquors l l Grader 1 Grader 2Grader 3 iii The liquid dishwashing composition of series B, used asrepresentative of a product now on the market, consists of the sodiumsalt of C alkylbenzene sulphonate: 21% by wt: sodium salt of sulphated Calcohol-ethylene oxide condensate (in average 4 ethylene oxide units):by wt; C mono-ethanol amide: 5% by wt; sodium salt of xylene sulphonate:6% by wt; ethanol: 5% by wt; balance: water.

TEST B Two other series, C and D, each of five dishwashing liquors areprepared. Each five liquors of series C contains about 0.25% by wt perliter of a dishwashing composition formulated according to Example IV,described hereinafter; and each of the five liquors of series D containsabout 0.25% by wt per liter of a dishwashing composition, presently onthe market, formulated as indicated below.

The water for preparing the washing liquors is tap water having a waterhardness of about 3.5 millimoles of CaCO per liter. The temperature ofall 7 liter baths or liquors is initially 48C, the temperature at theend of the washing cycle varies between 23 and 31C.

In each of the five washing liquors of the series C and D, 24 knives .ofstainless steel, obtained from a restaurant, soiled mainly by gravy, areimmersed for 5 minutes, thereafter cleaned one by one by rubbing with aconventional dishwashing brush, and laid aside in a dripping basket fordripping and air-drying.

Balance Once all knives are dry, each five sets of each 24 knives washedin the washing liquors of series C are compared with each five sets of24 knives washed in the washing liquors of series D.

Four experimented graders are asked to judge the sets of knives as tospots and overall cleaning performance, expressing their appreciation asvery good good acceptable (0), hardly acceptable and not acceptableTheir appreciation is given in Table 11.

TABLE ll Series C D Washing Liquors l 2 3 4 5 l 2 3 4 5 Grader l -ll- O-ll- 0 U Grader Z ll- 0 O (l Grader 4 H -ll- U 0 graded as hardlyacceptable because of white spots and stains on the blades of some ofthe knives.

The dishwashing composition of series D, used as a representative of aproduct now on the market, contains: sodium salt of C alcohol sulphate:14% by wt; sodium salt of sulphated C alcohol-ethylene oxide condensate(in average 3 ethylene oxide units): 15% by wt; C mono-ethanol amide: 2%by wt; sodium salt of toluene sulphonate: 3% by wt; balance: water.

The superiority in overall cleaning effect of the compositionsformulated according to the present invention. is more than evident fromsaid tests.

The following examples serve to illustrate, but not to limit the novelcompositions of the present invention. All percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 7.0% C alcohol-ethylene oxide (3)- sulfate sodium salt.

4.0% C alcohol sulfate ammonium salt 7.0% C paraffin sulfonate sodiumsalt 4.5% dimethyl dodecyl amine oxide 7.071 condensation product oftallow alcohol and l 1 moles ethylene oxide per mole alcohol 3.0'7!mono-ethanol coconut amide 7.07: ethanol Balance water.

EXAMPLE H C alcohol-ethylene oxide (3)-sulphate sodium salt.

C paraffin sulphonate triethanol ammonium salt,

C a-olefin sulphonate triethanol ammonium salt,

diethyl dodecylamine oxide.

condensation product of coconut alcohol and 6 moles ethylene oxide permole alcohol,

isopropanol.

water.

I EXAMPLE 111 l 2.0 6? Balance EXAMPLE IV 7.5 coconut alcohol-ethyleneoxide (CH-sulphate ammonium salt. 50 A coconut alcohol sulphate ammoniumsalt, 50 "/r paraffin sulphonate ammonium salt (average molecular weightof the hydrocarbon radical 196). 2.2 /1 coconut-glyceryl ethersulphonate sodium salt. 4.5 71 dimethyl dodecyl amine oxide. 7.0 '/1condensation product of C fatty alcohol and about 9 moles ethylene oxideper mole alcohol, 9.0 "/1 acetic acid. 5.0 "/1 sodium acetate, L0 71ammonium sulphonate [0.0 '/1 ethanol. Balance water.

EXAMPLES V X Compositions particularly designed for cleaning glasses.cutlery ot stainless steel and pans.

V VII VIII IX X coconut alcohol-ethylene V l6.5/(- 8.0'71 oxide(3)-sulphate ammonium salt U coconut alcohol-ethylene oxide (CH-sulphatesodium salt C paraffin sulphonate sodium salt C, alcohol sulphateammonium salt a-olefin sulp'honate ammonium salt coconut glyceryl ethersulphonate sodium salt N-methyl C alkyl amino sarcosinatc sodium saltdimcthyl dodecyl amine oxide coconut alcohol ethylene oxide (6)condensate tallow alcohol ethylene oxide l l condensate I acetic acidl4.0'/( I107: sodium acetate- 5.0% 4.07: lactic acid sodium lactate I vglycolic acid sodium glycolate citric acid sodium citrate potassiumtoluene sulphonate ethanol water balance The citric acid and sodiumcitrate of Example X can EXAMPLES XI XIV-continued be substituted by thesame amount of lactic acid and Xl Xll Xlll XIV sodium lactate, or by thesame amount of glycohc acid Hum It and sodium gly lutc. t h h-3% o aSucrose monodimethyl c... H alk'ylamine w 4m, 4m. 4w. oleate ester and3% polyethylene glycol condensate Y I l f 1 W 7 (W 1 W l I con ensa Ionrotuc o 1 l -t. (average molecular welght 0 can be dd (0, coconutalcohlll and 6 moles l ethylene oxide per mole alcohol condensationproduct of tallow 10% 3.0)? 5.0% alcohol and ll moles ethylene EXAMPLESXI XIV oxide per mole alcohol 4 potassium tetrahorate 3.0); 3.0% 2.0'71l X" X||| x y triethanol coconut fatty |.0'71 l.0/: L07: 0.5'7t

I (5 acid amide m alcohol ethylene 7.5); 0.0% 7.0% 7.0); lllllll 3.0'71a m l potassium hydroxide l.5'/( ethamilammonium salt r: u illkyl*rmlslmllu 21)); coconut sulphate lriethanol 2.0% l0); sUlllll'" sill!mmmmium SH" ethanol 30% 3.0); 3.0); 2.09 paral'lin sulphonate 1.5% 8.0%7.0% 6.0% water balance EXAMPLES XV XIX XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX coconutalcohol cthy- 12.0% 16.0% 10.0? H11); loo; lcnc oxide (3)-sulfate sodiumsalt C alcohol sulfate 4.0% sodium salt C paratfin sulphonatc 8.0% 6.0);14.0% l-Hl'x} HIV sodium salt C alkyl glyccryl other 3.0% 2 5" 3.0?sulphonatc sodium salt coconut alcohol ethylene oxide (1.0% 6.0% 8.0%(6) condensate parts dimcthyl dodccyl 5.0% 8.0% 6.0% 3.0% 3.0; amineoxide 35 parts dimcthyl dccyland tetradccylaminc oxide monocthanol Cfatty 4.0% U) 3.0% 3.0 3.0) acid amide sucrose mono-luuratc sodium (1.0%(1.0"? salt polyethylene glycol condensate 4.0% (average molecularweight 400) ethanol 8.071 4.07: 2,09} (HF/i 610 water balance Theforegoing description and examples describe and illustrate certainpreferred embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended thatthe invention should be so limited, since variations and modificationsthereof will be obvious to those skilled in the an, all of which arewithin the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid, clear, homogeneous, easily dispensable. stable,concentrated, aqueous. detergent composition containing hydrosolublesurface-active detergents and usual minor additives, characterized in,that it contains, calculated on the total weight of the composition:

(A) from about 5 to about 15% by weight of a polyethylene glycol ethersulfate of the general formula R,()( C. .H4()),,SO,M (I) wherein R is astraight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radicalhaving 8 to carbon atoms; n is from 1.5 to 12; M is an alkalimetal,ammonium, and dimethyl-, diethyl-, trimethyl-, triethyl-, dimethanol-,trimethanol-, diethanoland triethanol ammonium salt;

(B) from about 8 to about 20% by weight of an aliphatic hydrocarbonsulfonate of the general formula R. .so,,M (ll) wherein R is a straightor branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 8 to 20carbon atoms; M has the meaning given above; C. from about 3 to about12% by weight of nonionic surface-active detergent of which at least 20%and up to 100% by weight consists of a tertiary amine oxide of theformula R,.R.R,-,N o (no wherein R is a branched or straight,saturatedor unsaturated hydrocarbon radical;having 8 to 20 carbon atoms;R, and R represent each a methyl-, ethyl-. hydroxymethyland hydroxyethylradical; while the other 0 to 80% by weight of nonionic surface-activedetergent is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycolcondensation product having a molecular weight from about I60 to 800; acondensation product of 3 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole ofaliphatic or alkyl aromatic compound having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and atleast one reactive hydrogen atom; a saccharide fatty acid ester, and apolyoxyethylene saccharide fatty acid ester;

D. from about 2 to about 15% by weight of a solubilizing agent selectedfrom the group consisting of C alcohol; potassium, sodium and ammoniumsalt of C alkyl and di-C alkyl-phenyl sulfonic acid; and urea;

E. from about 5 to about 9% by weight of an organic acid selected fromthe group consisting of acetic-, citric-. gluconic-, glycolic-. lactic-.malic, maleic-, o-phthalic-. and p-phthalic acid;

whereby the weight ratio of (A) to (B) varies between I to 3 and l to l.and the weight ratio of (C) to (A) (B) varies between I to 5 and l to 2.

2. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1. characterized inthat the organic acid is acetic acid.

3. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 2, characterizedin, that it contains sodium, potassium. ammonium. and diand triethanolammonium salts of said "acid.

4. Aliquid detergent composition according to claim 3, characterized in.that the weight ratio of acid to salt varies between 7 to l and 4 to l.

5. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 4, characterizedin. that it contains up to 3% by weight of a substitutedmethylaminoacetic acid or the salt thereof. of the general formulaR..-Co N(R;l CH. CooM (IV) wherein R is a straight or branched.saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having from I l to 17 carbonatoms: R is -H or CH,.

and M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; alkalimetal;ammonium; and dimethyl-. diethyl-, trimethyl-, triethyl-, dimethanol-,trimethan0l-, diethanol-, and triethanol ammonium salt.

6. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1', characterizedin, that it contains 1 to 3% by weight of amonoand diethanol amide,derived from C fatty acid.

7. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, characterizedin, that it contains 2 to 3% by weight of Na or K salt of meta-. orthoorpyroboric acid.

8. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 7, characterizedin. that it contains up to 2% by weight of triethanol amine.

9. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 8, characterizedin, that the weight ratio of triethanol amine to borate varies between Ito 2 and l to 4.

10. A liquid composition according to claim 9. char acterized in, thatthe hydrocarbon radical of the polyethylene glycol ether sulfate of theformula (I) is an alkyl radical having l2 to 14 carbon atoms.

I]. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 10, characterizedin, that in the general formula (I) of the polyethylene glycol sulfate,n is 2 to 6.

12. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 10, characterizedin, that aliphatic hydrocarbon radical R of the sulfonate of the formula(ll) is an alkyl radical containing l2 to l8 carbon atoms.

l3. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 10, characterizedin, that the aliphatic hydrocarbon sulfonate of the formula (ll) is a 10to l to l to 2 mixture of C alkyl and C alkenyl sulfonates.

M. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 13, characterizedin, that it contains by weight 2 to 7% of C fatty alcohol sulfate.

15. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 14, characterizedin. that it contains up to 3% by 14 weight of a sodium. potassium andammonium salt of C alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonic acid.

16. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 15, characterizedin. that the R of the tertiary amine oxide of the general formula (III)is a C alkyl radical.

17. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 16 wherein aportion of the nonionic surface-active detergent is a polyethyleneglycol condensation product having a molecular weight of about 400.

IS. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 16 wherein aportion of the nonionic surface-active detergent is a condensationproduct of 6 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of C fatty alcohol.

I). A liquid detergent composition according to claim 16, characterizedin, that the saccharide fatty acid ester is sucrose mono-laurate.

20. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 16, characterizedin, that the polyoxyethylene saecharide fatty acid ester is a condensateof a sorbitan mono-laurate or a sorbitan monooleate with 15 to 20 molesof ethylene oxide.

21. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 20 wherein thesolubilizing agent is ethanol.

1. A LIQUID, CLEAR, HOMOGENEOUS, EASILY DISPENSABLE, STABLE,CONCENTRATED, AQUEOUS, DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONTAINING HYDROSOLUBLESURFACE-ACTIVE DETERGENTS AND USUAL MINOR ADDITIVES, CHARACTERIZED IN,THAT IT CONTAINS, CALCULATED ON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE COMPOSITION: (A)FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 15% BY WEIGHT OF A POLYETHYLENE
 2. A liquiddetergent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that theorganic acid is acetic acid.
 3. A liquid detergent composition accordingto claim 2, characterized in, that it contains sodium, potassium,ammonium, and di- and triethanol ammonium salts of said acid.
 4. Aliquid detergent composition according to claim 3, characterized in,that the weight ratio of acid to salt varies between 7 to 1 and 4 to 1.5. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 4, characterizedin, that it contains up to 3% by weight of a substitutedmethylaminoacetic acid or the salt thereof, of the general formulaR6-CO-N(R7)-CH2-COOM(IV) wherein R6 is a straight or branched, saturatedor unsaturated hydrocarbon group having from 11 to 17 carbon atoms; R7is -H or -CH3 and M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen;alkalimetal; ammonium; and dimethyl-, diethyl-, trimethyl-, triethyl-,dimethanol-, trimethanol-, diethanol-, and triethanol ammonium salt. 6.A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, characterized in,that it contains 1 to 3% by weight of a mono-and diethanol amide,derived from C8-24 fatty acid.
 7. A LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITIONACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, CHARACTERIZED IN, THAT IT CONTAINS 2 TO 3% BYWEIGHT OF -NA OR -K SALT OF META-, ORTHO-OR PYROBORIC ACID.
 8. A liquiddetergent composition according to claim 7, characterized in, that itcontains up to 2% by weight of triethanol amine.
 9. A liquid detergentcomposition according to claim 8, characterized in, that the weightratio of triethanol amine to borate varies between 1 to 2 and 1 to 4.10. A liquid composition according to claim 9, characterized in, thatthe hydrocarbon radical of the polyethylene glycol ether sulfate of theformula (I) is an alkyl radical having 12 to 14 carbon atoms.
 11. Aliquid detergent composition according to claim 10, characterized in,that in the general formula (I) of the polyethylene glycol sulfate, n is2 to
 6. 12. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 10,chaRacterized in, that aliphatic hydrocarbon radical R2 of the sulfonateof the formula (II) is an alkyl radical containing 12 to 18 carbonatoms.
 13. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 10,characterized in, that the aliphatic hydrocarbon sulfonate of theformula (II) is a 10 to 1 to 1 to 2 mixture of C12-18 alkyl and C12-16alkenyl sulfonates.
 14. A liquid detergent composition according toclaim 13, characterized in, that it contains by weight 2 to 7% of C8-18fatty alcohol sulfate.
 15. A liquid detergent composition according toclaim 14, characterized in, that it contains up to 3% by weight of asodium, potassium and ammonium salt of C12-18 alkyl glyceryl ethersulfonic acid.
 16. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 15,characterized in, that the R3 of the tertiary amine oxide of the generalformula (III) is a C12-16 alkyl radical.
 17. A liquid detergentcomposition according to claim 16 wherein a portion of the nonionicsurface-active detergent is a polyethylene glycol condensation producthaving a molecular weight of about
 400. 18. A liquid detergentcomposition according to claim 16 wherein a portion of the nonionicsurface-active detergent is a condensation product of 6 to 12 moles ofethylene oxide per mole of C12-16 fatty alcohol.
 19. A liquid detergentcomposition according to claim 16, characterized in, that the saccharidefatty acid ester is sucrose mono-laurate.
 20. A liquid detergentcomposition according to claim 16, characterized in, that thepolyoxyethylene saccharide fatty acid ester is a condensate of asorbitan mono-laurate or a sorbitan monooleate with 15 to 20 moles ofethylene oxide.
 21. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 20wherein the solubilizing agent is ethanol.